National Republican., 1887-02-24
SOCIETY REGULATOR.
How Dynamite Can bo Made to Hurl
Tremendous Destruction,


For few weeks past there has been con-
siderable Of a stir among several minor
naval officers detailed or temporarily here
in connection with the proposed increase
In the defensive and offensive naval facil-
tiles Of this country. Though these signs
Of excitement and perturbation have been
apparent in several quarters during that
time, 1t was supposed to be merely a logical
sequence to the almost marvellous rovel-
ations Of the terrible destructiveness Of the
Zalinsh dynamite gun. A reporter for the
REPUBLICAN,, however, received q hint from
naval friend In the verifcation OF which
he was called upon TO almost doubt the
possession Of his senses.
There arrived In this city about the 1st Of
January young Hollander named Leider.
meyer, who was accompanied by several
bulky parcels Of machinery. He secured
small house and workshop on the out
skirts Of the city, and proceeded to put to-
gether machine which, II 1t fulfllls the
expectations Of those who have seen IL in
operation, will reyolutionize warfare more
eifectually than did the substitution Of fire.
arms for the primitive bow and arrow, turn
the armed and threatening hosts Of Europe
from their bloody mission Of war into the
plowshare and pruning hook once more,
and solve the yexed problem OF transporta-
ton more effpctually than did ever the
widest dreams Of Stephenson or Fulton.
Astounding as as 1t may read, the ques-
tion OF modern warfare has been again
hoated out upon the boundless sea OF spec
ulation by the demonstration OF the as
sured existence OF a practical mode Of
aerial navigation.
After having secured the premises as
mentioned, the inventor proceeded, under
cover Of friendly shed, to join at their
bases four cones Of steel and shape them as
Il a catamaran, save that, instead OF being air
tight, they had number of complicated
| valves about the apex Of each, aud innum-
| cradle orilces about the base. This done he
proceeded to join them into q platform
resembling nothing more than the raft Of
| ones boyhood days-the trunks Of two
1 trees with plank lashed across either end.
l The oriflces of the base were then connected
| with series Of steel pipes which were in
| turn connected with powerful air.com.
| pressing machine which is Of his own make
l This machine was located In the center OF
| the Frieden Vermittler, or peacemaker, as
| the inventor called It, which was like the
seat Of sulky capable Of seating two,
| which was so constructed that 1t could be
| reversed, rendering 1t simple matter for
the occupants to "about face" In the
twinkling Of an eye, almost. The dream of
his life was then In working order, and he
felt that he was in position to present 1t
to the attention OF his adopted country that
It might be put into practical operation and
he be proportionately benefited.
| 1t was impossible to secure the attention
OF the higher naval or bureau officers, and,
In mood approaching despair, he con.
suited those naval officers who constitute
the working and not dancing men OF the
capital. At first by them he was deemed a
crank, but, at his earnest solicitation, they
consented to visit his humble workshop and
witness trial OF his "society regulator "
as one Of them facetiously termed 1t. In
an hour they were converted from doubling
Thomases into wild enthusiasts, and the
more effectually to link their names with
this greatest OF all modern inventions, they
have determined to keep the details Of the
entire affair profound secret until COM
pleted air ship capable Of dropping ton Of
dynamite upon the deck of war vessel oi
In the midst Of hostile army has been con
structed.
From what the unmechanical reporter
could gather from the inventor before the
seal OF silence was placed upon his lips thu
compressed air from valves beneath tn,
cylinders. When a sufficient altitude II
reached the motion and direction is con
trolled by like means from behind or (tt
check or stop the speed, for instance) II
front. Just beneath the seat occupied b.
the engineer and assistant is a well hole, b!
means Of which the annihilating Dynamite
or other explosives may be dropped, whicl
is conveniently stored at hand.
While the airship, as at present con
structed, is intended solely for the uses o
war, but little modification is needed h
convert 1t into passenger or freight con
veyer OF almost limtless capacity. Th
officers who have allied themselves with tn
genius who thought out and perfected thl
wonderful defiance of the laws of gravita
tion have concluded not to push the matte
at present, since the contemplated approprl
ations Of money by Congress do not becom
available until the termination Of the pres
ent fiscal year, and It will be full time the
to stop the manufacture of guns and ship
for water navigation.